I rode on platform pedals today, no really I did, and it did not suck

  • Thread starter Thread starter dustyyoungblood
  • Start date Start date
Toes down .. backward pressure. There are some good vids on it.

herzalot said:
I tried bunnyhopping my Santa Cruz V-10 right after I bought it, never having ridden flats before in my life. I took myself to the ER with blood spewing out of my shin drenching my shoe, Sam Peckinpah style. :bang:
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My faith in this site has been restored a well positioned Sam Peckinpah reference. Still remember when I first saw The Wild Bunch
 
mike said:
On flats trying to get a bike off the ground, I think it's easier to manual into a bunnyhop than straight BH; half your bike is already off the ground. And on the trail, that technique is much more useful than a straight BH – whether or not the back wheel fully clears. FWIW, JMHO.
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Yeah, I'm going to focus on learning to manual it. It's like starting off as a newb. FWIW, the front end feels REALLY heavy. I know it's longer/slacker, but figured the shorter stays would balance that out. I'm blowing through stuff a lot more...
 
I made the transition back to flats a couple trail work days ago. Maybe I just didn't want to wobble around on my cleats like a drunk runway model swinging a big pick. Anyway, RF Chesters from Amazon in basic black and some old Harsh skate shoes from Big 5. Worked like a charm.

The pedals felt big and solid, and those piranha teeth pins gripped my soles with the promise of so much more. Climbing was fine, walking around was dreamy, and I only rodeo cowboy'd it once while flying back down the trail. Yeehaw!
 
Cyclotourist said:
Yeah, I'm going to focus on learning to manual it. It's like starting off as a newb. FWIW, the front end feels REALLY heavy. I know it's longer/slacker, but figured the shorter stays would balance that out. I'm blowing through stuff a lot more...
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I rode the Highball down Motorway yesterday. After riding the Chameleon for the last 1000 miles, the Highball felt like it was in the air the whole time. Light and flippy versus heavy and planted!
 
kioti said:
I made the transition back to flats a couple trail work days ago. Maybe I just didn't want to wobble around on my cleats like a drunk runway model swinging a big pick. Anyway, RF Chesters from Amazon in basic black and some old Harsh skate shoes from Big 5. Worked like a charm.

The pedals felt big and solid, and those piranha teeth pins gripped my soles with the promise of so much more. Climbing was fine, walking around was dreamy, and I only rodeo cowboy'd it once while flying back down the trail. Yeehaw!
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I find that actual mtb flat shoes work better than any skate shoe. Enough so that I think it's worth the extra coin.
 
Runs with Scissors said:
Speaking of platform pedals...I think I will use those to get everything set on the Kona once I have all the parts. Those who know, is that a good idea? I will be running clipless once it's set up.
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I'd say only do it if ya got em already. Having dabbled a bit with flats on a borrowed bike lately I can say that a quality pair doesn't really give away much if anything as far as efficiency and they're actually kinda fun. Only thing I find is I'm constantly moving my foot around looking for that place where my knees are happy on flats. Also I like the feeling of not being spit off and having pretty shins so it's clips for me.
 
Well I went for a Fun Foray on Flats LCWP, all this talk about flats. Got alate start, beautiful day.

I have some nice 510 shoes and chromag contacts.

I am not planning to convert I just want to experience and learn some of my buddies that came from BMX and ride flats have such great control... And style. I feel it will only make me a better rider.

I did some reading last night to make sure I remember some of the basics heels down when descending little bit of toes down when getting air Etc. I ride them a couple rides last year then got distracted.

Even with the reading, I did a quick kind of mini tail whip out if the gate and came off my pedals on the very first try it was a good reminder.

Overall I rode everything that I should have including Lizards and TNA. I even sessioned the oddly spaced pump bumps on TNA just to get a bit of that feel.

A couple jumps on lizards I stayed connected that's good.

The chunk on TNA felt good.

Technical climbing felt very good. In fact I just attacked a place I sometimes hesitate, no need since instant out.

Whoever says you can't pull up / pull through the stroke on flats don't believe them, I just dropped the toe a bit and pulled through with the heel and knee all good.

At the beginning I struggled a bit with the heels down. Mr. Brown is not the most flexible person combine that with the deadlifts I just did on Thursday I was about as flexible as a carbon chain stay in my hamstrings. So dropping the heels kind of forced my hips back more than I would like and the Bronson likes to be ridden medium or attack position so I felt as a bit too far back and the front was wandering a bit. But as I loosened up I could drop my heels and stay and more neutral position.

I did notice I need to be more conscious about the feel of the bike and going with the bike not trying to muscle around. One of the articles I read said that riding with Flats is a bit more of a negotiation than riding with clipless. That made sense.

The second time on lizards I opened up a bit but I was also a bit tired I felt and only felt lightly connected a few times through the rocks I had to consciously drop the heels.

Other thing I struggled with is you're cruising along and you're too low of a gear you go to pedal in your feet come flying off.

So I had a good time but I had to think / concentrate more I suspect that will become more natural the more. I will ride a few more times and see how it goes.

No shin or calf digs...this time!

Afterall change is good...
Unless your are Leon from "The Professional"

20 miles 2800'
Screenshot_20180120-195415.png
 
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bvader said:
Well I went for a Fun Foray on Flats LCWP, all this talk about flats. Got alate start, beautiful day.

I have some nice 510 shoes and chromag contacts.

I am not planning to convert I just want to experience and learn some of my buddies that came from BMX and ride flats have such great control... And style. I feel it will only make me a better rider.

I did some reading last night to make sure I remember some of the basics heels down when descending little bit of toes down when getting air Etc. I ride them a couple rides last year then got distracted.

Even with the reading, I did a quick kind of mini tail whip out if the gate and came off my pedals on the very first try it was a good reminder.

Overall I rode everything that I should have including Lizards and TNA. I even sessioned the oddly spaced pump bumps on TNA just to get a bit of that feel.

A couple jumps on lizards I stayed connected that's good.

The chunk on TNA felt good.

Technical climbing felt very good. In fact I just attacked a place I sometimes hesitate, no need since instant out.

Whoever says you can't pull up / pull through the stroke on flats don't believe them, I just dropped the toe a bit and pulled through with the heel and knee all good.

At the beginning I struggled a bit with the heels down. Mr. Brown is not the most flexible person combine that with the deadlifts I just did on Thursday I was about as flexible as a carbon chain stay in my hamstrings. So dropping the heels kind of forced my hips back more than I would like and the Bronson likes to be ridden medium or attack position so I felt as a bit too far back and the front was wandering a bit. But as I loosened up I could drop my heels and stay and more neutral position.

I did notice I need to be more conscious about the feel of the bike and going with the bike not trying to muscle around. One of the articles I read said that riding with Flats is a bit more of a negotiation than riding with clipless. That made sense.

The second time on lizards I opened up a bit but I was also a bit tired I felt and only felt lightly connected a few times through the rocks I had to consciously drop the heels.

Other thing I struggled with is you're cruising along and you're too low of a gear you go to pedal in your feet come flying off.

So I had a good time but I had to think / concentrate more I suspect that will become more natural the more. I will ride a few more times and see how it goes.

No shin or calf digs...this time!

Afterall change is good...
Unless your are Leon from "The Professional"

20 miles 2800'
View attachment 35747
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A good review, Mr. Brown!
 
I ride both, depending on the trail conditions and my mood. My default for the hills is flats because I'm not crazy about the way my bike moves in the air when clipped in. For anyone playing around with them who typically rides clipless, I'd recommend giving it at least double digit rides before making the switch back.
 
bvader said:
Rode the flats again today.. gonna ride em more.

Question : What does "Pedal Flip" mean with respect to flats?
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Is it not when the pedal turns over? I think those who ride flats have a preference as to how easily or how slowly the pedals turn over. I am guessing if you are removing your feet for stunts, you don't want pedals spinning randomly.

On the other hand - I could just be completely wrong.
 
Pedal flip is when your foot slips off the pedal and it spins around. Usually off the front leading to a nasty calf gash. It happened to me regularly in the early stages of my transformation. I have the scars to prove it. Interestingly enough I cannot ever remember slipping off the back like the old days and bashing a shin. The new pedal pins are very grippy.
 
Tom the Bomb said:
Pedal flip is when your foot slips off the pedal and it spins around. Usually off the front leading to a nasty calf gash. It happened to me regularly in the early stages of my transformation. I have the scars to prove it. Interestingly enough I cannot ever remember slipping off the back like the old days and bashing a shin. The new pedal pins are very grippy.
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Thanks @Tom the Bomb ... found a description elsewhere that matches yours...Apparently it can happen during aggressive pedalling/ climbing. I will keep that in mind
 
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